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Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

I have read that stuffed kongs are great but my dog LOVES nyla bones. I would never think to leave one in his crate while I am gone for the day in fear that he might choke on it. It is a very hard plastic so I dont think that he can ever chew it that quickly in one day.

I was wondering other than a stuffed kong, what if anything could be left with my pup for the work day? Thanks.

Re: Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

Trent has two Nylabones in his crate. He's pretty destructive, but those Nylabones are good and sturdy, just with a few bite marks. I check them everyday for damage, though, just in case. Kongs can be torn up, too, so I check them as well. Any sign of tear and I'd toss it.

At first I left Trent bully sticks in his crate, and then realized he pretty much swallows the last 3 inches of the bully stick whole in one gulp. So I stopped doing that, but he always takes 2-3 days to finish a bully stick, so I can leave one in his crate for the first day without worry. Of course, I am able to check on him regularly (as I am home all day, usually).

I don't recommend squeaky toys. Your dog could easily pop out the squeaky and swallow it.

Re: Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

my boyfriend and i are gone during the day for work so our vet recommended leaving food and fresh water in her crate. we have a water bottle (like ones a hampster would use-petsmart makes ones for small dogs/toy breeds) because she knocks over her water dishes. lol. we keep soft stuffed toys in her crate. it usually takes her a long time to rip through one (like weeks). we also put a towel down and my BF's t shirt.

Re: Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

Re: Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

It just depends on the dog. My Lab doesn't really destroy his toys unless they are stuffies. He can pretty much have whatever he wants in his crate. My Mastiff will destroy some toys so I normally just leave a Kong or a Nylabone. I just throw the Nylabone out when its worn down enough that he could possibly chew a chunk off of it. It takes about a month for that to happen and just buy him a new one. I've also left deer antlers but you have to make sure that they are adequate size for the dog and check them for wear and tear like any other toy. After a period of use they do become sort of brittle and could break off. That normally takes a long time though.

I don't leave blankets or dog beds in the crates anymore because my Lab swallowed a piece of his blanket awhile ago...thankfully he vomited it up without any problems.

Re: Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

During the day, leave food and water in the crate. I would also leave some toys to keep him occupied and maybe a dog pillow, or some kind of blanket to keep them comfortable. If crating at night, I would keep the water down to a minimum to prevent them drinking too much water in the night and having an accident.

Re: Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

I wish I could leave food and water in the crate but that would be an absolute mess with my dog. I really think he gets angry and would destroy anything in his crate that he could. I am amazed by what damage he can do by chewing things even though he is only 10 pounds and hardly has any teeth left. lol

Re: Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

we leave a water bottle in there 24/7 but food only goes in during the day. and our bowl is attached to the side of the crate that way it's not sitting on the floor for her to push over. we also put down a towel and a t-shirt of ours. then we alternate between toys. nothing that she will destroy within that time. we also put a light blanket over her crate because if it's not over her crate she whines.

Re: Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

I have two fleece blankets in with Donatello because he loves fleece, or anything soft... I also have a thick blanket over the top to make it darker, to encourage "sleep".

I actually have what they call a "croc" (sp), where it fastens to the wire door of the cage. I plan to put water in it while I'm gone at work, but in the mean-time I put treats and a little bit of soft-dog food in there so he gets used to eating/drinking out of it...

He's got a few different treats/chews in there with him, but he does absolutely nothing when I leave him alone. Seriously. He won't chew on his bones, he won't play with his toys, he doesn't even really eat... So I don't clutter up his crate by putting things in there I know he won't use... He does like his water though, and he's old enough to drink as much as he wants without having to pee right away.

Re: Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

i leave water in the crate at all times, Kaiya has one that screws on an dettaches to the wire of her crate, so no mess!! i found out the hard way, she likes to dig in her water bowl
i also have a dog pillow, she loooves her pillow, and a stuffy, she is used to sleeping with her little sister (chihuahua) and i find if she has a stuffy shes asleep when i come home instead of whining the whole time

Re: Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

my dog's food bowl in her crate screws on like others said theirs do. and her water bottle hangs so it's not in the way either. my pup doesn't ever finish her food in her crate but she does eat some. she drinks water like a mad woman though. i have no clue why.

Re: Going to work - what do you leave in crate?

it depends on the dog. my dog has one towel in her crate that she went nuts for and tore up but since then she hasn't tore up any others. we don't want to deprive her of water because we are gone about 8 hours during the day. every now and then she will pee in her crate and i think that's simply because she drank more water that day. but usually she will hold it. the other day i found loose stool in her crate smeared on her towel. usually she is really good about not going #2 in the house... let alone in her crate. so that made me think she just had an upset tummy. just make sure you check all items in your dogs crate every day to make sure nothing is torn, broken, or soiled. even if my dogs towels aren't soiled i still change them every couple of days. she likes fluffy towels. lol. she's spoiled.